Soon your children will be home for the summer. They will be playing outside and (inevitably) injuring themselves. There are many common summer injuries for kids, but the question many parents ask is, “What should I do if they happen?”
Some injuries aren’t serious and can be treated at home, but others require the attention of a medical professional. Here are a few common summer injuries for kids and tips for helping them stay safe.
Trampolines
It’s nice outside and the kids want to bounce. They love the trampoline, but it can be dangerous if they are not careful.
A few tips to keep your children safe on trampolines:
- One person jumping at a time
- Always supervise your children
- Do not allow somersaults
- Cover the springs with padding
- Keep children under 6 off the trampoline
If you are unsure a trampoline is safe for your child, it may be best to keep them away or consult your child’s physician for more information.
Lawn Mowers
Most kids love to help mow the lawn or ride the mower for fun, but this can be dangerous if they are not properly supervised. To protect your children from injuries, it is important to keep these ideas in mind:
- Children under 12 should not operate a mower (despite what your parents made you do)
- Young children should be safely away from a mower as it can launch harmful debris (sticks, rocks, etc.)
- Always wear protective eyewear, use ear protection, and wear appropriate footwear
This is not an exhaustive list by any means but just some common contributors to mower injuries.
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Playgrounds
Children love to visit playgrounds and parks in the summer. There are slides and jungle gyms and myriad fun objects to climb on, swing from, and play with to and keep kids entertained. But what about the hazards of a playground?
Keep your children safe with these rules for playground safety:
- Do not allow children to play on wet equipment
- Do not go down the slide with your child (a common cause of lower extremity injuries)
- Remove drawstrings and hoods from clothing that could catch on equipment
- Ensure your child is wearing proper footwear
Many things can happen to a child at the playground. It is important to think about safety with your children, with regard to their clothing and play habits.
Kids will be kids and they will find ways to hurt themselves that few can predict. However, it is important to follow safety practices no matter where you are or what your child is doing. Following the tips above steps will help prevent many potential injuries to your children.
Helmets should be mandatory and pads are strongly recommended when riding a bike, skateboard, or scooter. Water safety should not be ignored but is a separate topic that requires its own list of tips. Dangers seem to be lurking at every turn. It is impossible to prevent all injuries but some simple precautions can significantly help reduce the chances.
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